Domestic laundry apparatus



jam- 28, 1941- y E. N. HURLEY, JR., ETAL, 2,230,059

A DOMESTIC LAUNDRY APPARATUS v Filed June 4. 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l BY l OS2/0f? Jensen.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 2% MML N- HURLEY, um Erg-'AL 2,230,059

` DOMESTIC LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed June 4, 19558 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z lg L 5f 7/ 7J l 40 .5/ zo 62 INVENTORS. Edward /1/ /7/1 r/ey, Jr

BY Josep/7 ZZ Jensen.

/ NEY.

Jan- 28, 1941- E. N. HURLEY, m., Erm.. 2,9%,059

DOMESTIC LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Jun@ 4. 193e s sheets-sheet s INVENTORS. Edward AA /ur/eg/"r: BY Josep/2 ZZ Jensen.

atentecl Jan. 28, 19411 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOMESTIC LAUNDRY APPARATUS Edward N. Hurley, Jr., Wheaton, and Joseph W. Jensen, Berwyn, Ill.; said Jensen assignor to Electric Household Utilities Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 4, 1938, Serial No. 211,758

s Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in laundry apparatus and, more particularly, to Washing and ironing machines of the type used in the household.

,mi in many localities, homes are constructed with- A3W ticably for use in such homes and apartments as above mentioned. At the present time it is possible to obtain a full-size washing machine, which occupies a substantial amount of space and, in

general, is in the way when not in use, and in di) some instances, resultsin unduly crowding of the room pr other. locality' where the machine is placed when not in operation, as well as presenting an unsightly appearance. It is also possible to obtain a relatively small washing machine. of

`dt the type sometimes termed midget machines,

which while .occupying a small amount of floor space. are, as a rule, wholly impractical for properly and expeditiously washing a substantial volume of clothes. Furthermore, such small matu chines are not usually prcvidedwith power driven wringers, and hence the water must be removed irom the clothes by hand, which operationisusually considered more laborious than the washing operation itself.

it This invention is more particularly directed to an improved laundry apparatus which is espe'- clally suitable for use in homes and apartments as above mentioned, and which includes a. washing machine of the type having 'a detachable m power driven Wringer.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel washing machine construction of the character indicated, which is of substantial capacity and which is so constructed as to as permit quick and easy adjustment thereof to a desired height at which it is most convenient for the operator to utilize, and which may be readily and substantially reduced in height so as to permit convenient storing of the machine in small so quarters, in an out-o f-the-way location when not inbuse, such as under a kitchen sink or under a ta le.

Another object is to provide an improved washing machine construction ofthe type having a at detachable power driven wringer, which machine (Cl. S12- 151) is characterized by the provision of novel manually operated' mechanism ior quickly and easily varying the eifective overall height of the machine and in which the cabinet of the machine is formed with a compartment in which the wringer 5 may be stored when not in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel form of raising and lowering mechanism for varying the effective height of the washing machine; said mechanism including self-locking features for automatically retaining the washing machine -at any desired position of vertical adljustment within the normal range of movement thereof.

A still further object is to provide an improved washing machine of the character indicated which is of simple, practical, compact construction and which is capable of being embodied in a neat and attractive design so as not to appear unsightly in the living quarters of a home or apartment.

Other objectsand advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a Washing machine embodying the novel features constituting the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially as indicated at lines 2--2 on Fig. i. 30

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially as indicated at lines 3-3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the raising and lowering mechanism, taken substantially as indicated at lines 1 4 on'Fig. 3. l

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the raising and lowering mechanism. taken as indicated at lines 6-5 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is anl enlarged detail sectional view 4G y.through a portion of the operating mechanism and the casing of the washing machine, taken as indicated at lines Ii-B on Fig. 4.

Fig. 7v is an enlarged detail sectional vie through a corner o f the casing of the washing machine showing the relationship and connection of one of a supporting leg to the casing, taken .substantially as indicated at either of the planes y In the embodiment of our invention selected for purpose of illustration, the washing machine includes a tubular casing I0 formed of sheet metal in substantially rectangular cross-section. It is to be understood that the cross-sectional form of the casing may be of any desired shape, preferably polygonal, which is to be understood as including any closed multi-sided form. The upper marginal portion of the casing is bent inwardly to form a marginal flange on which is mounted a top I2 which is secured thereto by screws I3. Said top I2 is preferably a casting and is formed with a relatively large central (preferably circular) opening I3*i registering with and constituting the opening for a tub |4 disposed within the casing and which is herein shown of circular cross-section. Said top I2 surrounding the opening I3a is formed with an annular recess or depression to constitute a seat for the marginal edge of a cover indicated at I6, which serves as a closure for the tub of the washing machine. Said cover, as may be seen in the drawings, is of circular outline and is formed with an upwardly offset concentric intermediate area I6a with a central area I6b appearing depressed with respect thereto. Connected centrally to said central area I6b and projecting from opposite sides thereof are handles or knobs |6c and |6d, respectively. It will be noted that due to the oiset relation of the intermediate area I6a and central area I6", the knob |6 does not project above the top surface of said intermediate area I6, so that the cover may be permitted to rest relatively stable when inverted and placed on a flat top support, such as a table. Furthermore, the cover, when in position on the machine, may serve as a. flat top for properly supporting articles. The knobs I6c Aand I6d may be connected together in any convenient manner (not shown), such as by a threaded stud carried on one knob threaded into the other knob. The marginal edge of the cover is embraced by a band I6e of U-shaped cross'- section. Said band is preferably formed of re' silient material, such as rubber, and when seated in the annular recess surrounding the opening I3a of the top I2, serves to provide a seal for the tub opening, and also serves to reduce noise in placement of the cover. Itis to be understood thatfor purposes of appearance, said cover, which is formed of metal, is provided with a highly finished surface, such as chromium or nickel plating, or the cover may be made of aluminum and the surface thereof highly polished. As will be apparent, our novel form of cover construction may be utilized advantageously as a tray adapted to be supported by the handle or knob I6d for conveying washed fabric articles preparatory to hanging up for drying. Furthermore, the cover when thus inverted may, due to its ornamental and attractive appearance, be conveniently used as a tray for various other purposes in which case, the underside of the intermediate area I6B is, in eiect, an annular trough with the knob I6d located a convenient distance above the bottom so as to permit convenient grasping by the hand.

The tub I4 may be of any desired construction and as shown, it is supported on a diagonally disposed structural member |1 in the form of a down-turned channel, the ends of which are secured by bolts |8 to the angular extensions I9 of brackets 20, which are rigidly attached to two contiguous walls of the casing l0, as by spot welding, in position to bridge the corners of said casing. The tub is additionally braced and held channel I1.

in fixed position in the cabinet by two sets of tie rods |13, connecting opposite ends of the channel |1, with the top I2; said rods being threaded at their upper ends in bosses I2a formed on the underside of said top. The upper marginal edge of the tub I4 is embraced by a resilient band 22 of U-shaped cross-section, which serves the function of assisting in supporting and positioning the tub on the support I1 and also serves as a seal to prevent passage of the washing fluid over the upper marginal edge of the tub.

Mounted substantially centrally within the tub is an oscillatable agitator element 25, of conventional design, supported on a tubular standard 26, and driven by a vertically disposed drive shaft 21, extending upwardly through said standard 26. Said standard protrudes through the bottom of the tub and tht web of the structural channel I1 and terminates slightly below a transversely extending bracket member 28, which is rigidly 4attached to the flanges of the channel member I1. This arrangement thus provides two vertically separated supports for the standard 26, to insure proper positioning of same. Press-tted onto the tubular standard 26 is a coupling member 29 having a ilange 30 which is rigidly attached by means of screws 3| to the web portion of the Said coupling member is also formed with an annular up-standing threaded portion 32 adapted to project through the opening in the bottom of the tub and on which is threaded a nut 33. Interposed between the flange 30 and the outside of the bottom of the tub and between the nut 33 and the inside of the bottom of the tub are gaskets 34, which seal said aperture in the bottom of the tub in a manner well understood in the art. y

The agitator 25 is controlled in operation by mechanism located in the head 25` which, in the position shown, may be understood to be in driving engagement with the agitator driveshaft 21, and which may be vertically raised together with the body of the agitator for disengaging the drive connections to the agitator drive shaft. While this form of control does not constitute any part of the present invention, it may be understood to be similar in construction and operation to the .agitator control disclosed in the co-pending application of A. H. Gerhardt and J. W. Jensen, Serial No. 218,266, led July 9, 1938.

The lower end of the agitator drive shaft 21 extends into a cast housing 31 in which it is rigidly connected to a pinion 38 which, in turn, is meshed with a reciprocating rack bar 39, slidably guided in said housing 31. One end of the rack bar, as seen in Fig. 2, is rigidly connected to a block 40 which, in turn, is pivotally connected to the outer end of a pitman 42 mounted on the lower end of the Wringer post drive shaft 43. This wringer post drive shaft may be understood to be operatively driven in a conventional manner by mechanism, not herein shown in detail, operatively connected to an electric motor indicated at 45 which is carried by brackets 46 secured to a bottom panel 41 which constitutes the bottom of the casing I0.

It is to be understood that the wringer post4 drive shaft 43 terminates at its upper end adjacent the top 2 Yand is formed to receive a coupling of the drive mechanism associated with tht wringer (not shown), which may be understood to be detachably connectible to the shaft 43 in a conventional manner. As may be seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. the casing I0 extends a substantial distance below the bottom of. the tub I4 and has its lower marginal edge formed with an inturned Flange to which is secured, as by bolts (not shown), a panel 41 to constitute a bottom for the casing. and, incidentally, to constitute `a 5 bottom for a. storage compartment formed therein below the tub and the driving mechanism. Preferably, the rear wall of the casing, adjacent the bottom, is formed with an opening 48 'to afford access to the compartment, which vcompartinent may serve as a convenient place of storage lor the wringer when removed from the machine.

A pump 49 is operably connected to the driving mechanism in a conventional manner and is l5 provided with a exible hose 49, which, it may be understood, is connected to the drain outlet oi? the tub |4. The pump is also provided with a flexible discharge conduit (not shown) connected to the lower end oi! a stand pipe 45h, secured by brackets to the exterior rear wall of the casing ill. The upper end of the stand pipe is provided with a telescopic swivelneck 49 constituting the discharge nozzle, which may be adjusted as deslred for conveniently discharging the washing uid. into the sink or other place of discharge.

'The washing machine, as may be seen in Fig. 1,

may occupy a position as shown in full lines, or`

may be elevated to a position indicated by dotted lines, or may be adjusted to any position intermediate the two positions indicated in said Fig. 1 so as to suit the convenience of the user as to the matter of height of the machine. The mechanisrn for elevating and lowering the machine includes vertically disposed supporting legs 5| slidably mounted in each of the four corners of the casing and, as may be seen in the drawings, said supporting legs are each formed asI structural angle members, including a pair of angularly related portions adapted to be positioned in close proximity to the two contiguous walls ci the casing forming the corner. The lower end oi each of the legs has rigidly attached thereto as by welding, a bracket 52 in which is mounted a caster 53, which casters serve to facilitate the movement and placement ofi the machine. The supporting legs 5| are 'confined in their respective corners by the brackets 20 which are spot-welded to the interior of thev casing and which are formed with offset portions connected by an intermediate portion bridging the corner so as to accommodate and provide clearance for the leg members 5|. Said brackets are formed to provide ways 20L in which the outer marginal portions of the respective anguil larly related portions of the leg members are slidably movable. rMounted adjacent the lower portion of the casing to'also assist in providing guidance and support for the legniembers 5| are `brackets which, in general are similar to ou 'the brackets 21| except that they are not provided with angular extensions I9. Mounted in the ways ior the leg members formed in1 the respective brackets 20 'and 55 are bearing liners which are of generally U-shaped` cross-seccd tion, as seen in Fig. 9, and which liners are adapted to embrace the outer marginal edges of ,y

the respective angularly related portions of said -legs 5i. Said liners are each formed with a pair or tangs4 51 projecting outwardly from the web portion .connecting the two sides thereof, which tangs are adapted to be extended through openings formed in the ends of the 'ways of brackets 20 and 55 und crimped thereover, as seen in the drawings, for fixedly attaching rsaid liners in position in said brackets. In order to protect the interior of the metal casing i0 from corrosion, it is preferably coated or painted, and the liners 56v thus space the legs 5| out of sliding contact with the inner surfaces of the casings and thus avoid the possibility of scraping oi the coating. 5 The adjacent marginal edges of the angularly related -portions of` the legs of each pair are formed with a series of teeth 59 so as to constitute a rack. Extending transversely and disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane, i0 below the driving mechanism for the agitator, are a pair of parallel, spaced-apart, drive shafts 6|, to the outer ends of which are rigidly attached gears 62 which are positioned in meshing engagement with the respective racks 59 of said l5 legs 5|, as seen in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. These shafts are supported ladjacent their outer ends in bracket plates 64 which are of the form as may be seen in the detail of Fig. 8 and which are provided wtih an angularly disposed portion 65 20 adapted to be rigidly attached to the extensions I9 of the brackets 2li. Said bracket plates 64 are attached to the brackets 20 in the corner to which the channel support I1 extends by the bolts I5, which also secure said channel in posi- 25 tion, while the bracket plates 64 located in the opposite diagonal corners are secured to the bracket plates 2|) by bolts 20h. The bracket plates 64 are formed so as to engage a portion of the lower marginal edge of the brackets 2|! in a0 interlocking relationship, as seen in Figs. 4 to 6 i inclusive, so as to form a substantial and practical connection to the casing and which, in effect, is equivalent to a direct bearing support on the casing proper. Il

Extending transversely of the shafts 6| is a manually operable drive shaft 61 disposed below said driven shafts 6| and supported thereby. Said shaft' 61 is connected to the respective shafts 6| by bearing brackets 68, each of which' 40 in either of two right angle vertical planes is of U-shaped cross-section, and in which brackets a pair of legs 69 have journal support on the drive shaft 61, while the other opposite pair of legs 10 are somewhat longer and are journaled 45 on the shafts 6|. Rigidly mounted on the drive shaft 61 and embraced between each pair of legs 69 is Ia worm 1|, which worms are secured to said shaft by means of set screws 12. Disposed in the bottom of the brackets, below the lill worms, is a body of material, preferably in the form of fabric 13, such as felt, saturated with suitable lubricant for providing adequate lubrication to the threads of the worm. Mounted on the respective shafts 6| by means of pins V62 55.

intermediate respective pairs of legs 10 of said bracket 68 are gears 15 which are in mesh with the respective worms 1|. It will now be seen that by virtue of the construction described, the drive shaft 61 together with .the worms are supported 60 `by the driven shafts 6|. One end of the drive shaft 61 is extended as indicated at 61l through the back wall of the casing and bent angularly to a hand crank portion 6-1b on the outer end o! which is mounted a convenient knob 61 for ro- 65 tating the shaft 61, which in turn imparts rotation in opposite directions to the two driven shafts 6| icy/virtue of whichrthe gears 62 are caused to rotate and thereby. move vertically with respect to the racks 59 and-their support- 70 ing legs 5 l, either upwardly or downwardly, depending upon the direction of rotation of "the, crank arm 61h, for vraising or lowering the entire washing machine structure. It is to be understood that the worms1| are of the self-,locking 75 type so as to serve to support the load and maintain the machine, at any position of vertical adjustment within the range of movement thereof as indicated in the full line and dotted line positions respectively in Fig. 1.

It Will now be apparent that by virtue of the construction described the washing machine when in use may be readily elevated to a proper and convenient height for performing a normal washing. When the Washing operation is completed, the wringer (not shown) may be removed and placed in the storage lcompartment 48 in the bottom of the cabinet, and thenby operation of the crank arm Glb through the mechanism above described, the machine may be lowered to a height substantially as indicated'in full lines in Fig. 1, lat which height it is sufficiently low to permit the machine to lbe conveniently stored under a kitchen sink of average height, or under a table or in any suitable out-of-theway location. In any event, the machine, when collapsed, Will occupy a minimum amount of space while at the same time, it does not present an objectionable1 or unsightly appearance.

Although we have .herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, manifestly it is capable of modication and rearrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. We do not, therefore, wish to 4be understood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiment herein disclosed, except as it may be so limited by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination, a casing of polygonal'crosssection for supporting and enclosing a washing machine or the like therein, a plurality of supporting legs slidably mounted in the respective corners of the casing, 'bracket means connected to the interior of each of two contiguous sides of the casing to form-guideways for said leg mem.-

. bers, and manually actuated means carried by the casing and operably connected to said legs for uniformly moving 'said casing relatively to the legs, whereby to vary the height of the casing relatively to ythe oor, said manually actuated means includinga plurality of driven shafts', pinions rigidly mounted on said shafts, rack means on each leg member meshed with said pinions, a drive shaft, motion transmitting means interconnecting said drive shaft with the driven .relatively to the floor, said manually actuated shafts, and bearing brackets for said driven shafts rigidly connected to said leg-guideway brackets for supporting said manually actuated means.

2. In combination, a casing of polygonal crosssection for supporting and enclosing a Washing machine or the like therein, a plurality of supporting legs slidably mounted in the respective corners of the casing, bracket means connected to the interior of each of tWo contiguous sides of the casing to form guideways forsaid leg members, and manually actuated means carried by the casing and operably connected to said legs for uniformly moving said casing relatively to the legs, whereby to vary the height of the casing means including a plurality of driven shafts, pinions rigidly mounted on said shafts, rack means on each leg member meshed with said .pinions a. drive shaft, motion transmitting means interconnecting said drive shaft with the driven shafts, including means for supporting said drive shaft from said driven shafts, and bearing brackets for said driven shafts rigidly connected to said leg-guideway brackets for Asupporting said manually actuated means.

3. In combination, a casing of polygonal crosssection for supporting and enclosing a washing machine or the like therein, a leg member slidably'mounted in each corner of .the casing, each of said leg members being of angular cross-section with the angularly related portions thereof disposed adjacent contiguous sides of the casings, the marginal edge of one of said portions of each leg member being formed as a rack, bracket means connected' to the interior of each of two contiguous sides of the casing to form ways forl the respective angularly related portions of the leg members, liners of U-shaped cross-sections mounted in Said ways of the brackets and serving to embrace and provide `guidance for the angularly related portions of the leg members, and manually actuated leg operating means carried by the casing, including pinions meshingwith the racks of the respective leg members for uniformly moving the casing relatively to the leg members for varying the height of the casing relatively to the iioor.

EDWARD N. HURLEY, JR. JOSEPH W. JENSEN. 

